FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn., April 21 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Fushi Copperweld (Nasdaq: FSIN)'s American research and development center announces production of 4THOUGHT(TM), a new copper-clad steel (CCS) grounding product for use in electrical substations. 4THOUGHT(TM) is a 19-wire Copperweld(R) CCS cable produced to exactly the diameter of 4/0 AWG solid copper grounding wire, which is the current accepted industry standard for substation grounding applications.
"Using solid copper wire as a ground conductor in substations represents ampacity overkill, largely because the copper has to be dramatically upsized in order to satisfy the tensile strength requirements of a substation," says Joe Longever, CEO of Fushi Copperweld.
CCS wire of a similar size to solid copper 4/0 AWG has long been available, and works well as a grounding conductor. However, because steel is so strong, it is not sufficiently flexible for easy installation. Copper, on the other hand, is much more ductile than steel, but also more susceptible to fatigue and breakage.
4THOUGHT(TM) consists of several smaller CCS wires stranded together, which renders it very easy to bend and shape, and allows for simple installation. Also, because it has been manufactured to the same diameter as 4/0 copper, it does not require any adapters and can use exactly the same connectors as the current industry standard. By implementing a 19-wire configuration, Fushi Copperweld's engineering team has been able to provide sufficient ampacity for grounding applications in the same size conductor, which continues to offer greater tensile strength at a lower price than that of pure copper. Conversion to the new product is simple and offers not only initial savings over pure copper, but over time, the durability of the center steel core lowers replacement costs due to breakage. In addition, the scrap value of Copperweld(R) CCS cable is that of steel, making it unattractive for thieves.
"4THOUGHT(TM) is revolutionary not because of any new technology discovery, but rather because of our ability to assess the needs of our customers and respond with a product that offers all the advantages they are looking for: strength, flexibility, connectivity and ampacity," says Longever. The trade name of the product, 4THOUGHT(TM), represents these four characteristics and the thought process behind the product, and plays on the standard AWG nomenclature (4/0 is pronounced "four-aught").
In the United States and Canada, 4THOUGHT(TM) will be sold exclusively by Fushi Copperweld's distributor, ACA Conductor Accessories. Fushi Copperweld will market the product directly in the rest of the world. The company will begin shipments of the product later this month, but is previewing the product at the IEEE's Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, currently taking place in New Orleans.
For more information, please visit the Fushi Copperweld web site, at http://www.fushicopperweld.com .
About Fushi Copperweld
Fushi Copperweld Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Fushi International (Dalian) Bimetallic Cable Co. Ltd., and Copperweld Bimetallics LLC, is the leading manufacturer and innovator of copper-clad bimetallic engineered conductor products for electrical, telecommunications, transportation, utilities and industrial applications. With extensive design and production capabilities, and a long-standing dedication to customer service, Fushi Copperweld is the preferred choice for bimetallic products worldwide.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Horton
Director of Global Marketing
Fushi Copperweld Inc.
Tel: +1-615-428-3333
E-mail: thorton@fushicopperweld.com
Web: http://www.fushicopperweld.com
